Mechanical locking of floor panels with vertical snap folding

ABSTRACT

Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system on long and short edges allowing installation with vertical snap folding that could be accomplished automatically without tools and where the short edge locking system has a tongue made in one piece with the panel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/011,121, filed on Aug. 27, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/660,538, filed Oct. 25, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.8,554,234, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/266,762, filed Nov. 7, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,140, and claimsthe benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. Application No. 60/986,077,filed on 7 Nov. 2007. The entire contents of each of U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/011,121, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/660,538, U.S.application Ser. No. 12/266,762, and U.S. Application No. 60/986,077 arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

AREA OF INVENTION

The invention generally relates to the field of floor panels withmechanical locking systems, which could be locked by a vertical snapfolding. The invention provides new improved locking systems, floorpanels with such locking systems and an installation method to connectsuch panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In particular, yet not restrictive manner, the invention concerns amechanical locking system for rectangular floor panels with long andshort edges. It should be emphasized that long and short edges are onlyused to simplify the description. The panels could also be square.However, the invention is as well applicable to building panels ingeneral. More particularly the invention relates to the type ofmechanically locking systems, which allow that all four edges of a panelcould be locked to other panels by an angling action. The long and shortedges have a mechanical locking system, which could be lockedhorizontally with a strip and a locking element on one edge thatcooperates with a locking groove in another edge and vertically with atongue in one of the edges that cooperates with a tongue groove in theother adjacent edge. The long edges could be locked with angling and theshort edges with a combined vertical and horizontal snap action. Theshort edges locking system is preferably formed in one piece of a woodfibre or a plant fibre based material or a plastic material that is apart of the panel core. The locking system could also be formed of apreferably separate wood fibre based material, which is connected to thepanel, preferably as an edge section, and glued to an upper and lowerlayer of the floor panel and formed by machining.

Floor panels with locking systems of this kind are described in forexample WO 01/02669 (Akzenta), WO 01/51732, (Hulsta-Werke), WO 01/75247(Perstorp Flooring), WO 01/77461 (Välinge) and WO 2001/088306(Kronospan). The floor panels have a locking system comprising a lockingelement cooperating with a locking groove, for horizontal locking, and avery small tongue, which cooperates with a tongue groove, for verticallocking. The locking systems are designed such that fibres could becompressed and/or the strip could bend downwards during connection oftwo adjacent edges. Such locking system could be used to connect twoadjacent short edges vertically and horizontally by a combined verticaland horizontal displacement. One edge could be pressed downwardsvertically until the tip of the small tongue reaches the opening of thetongue groove. The small tongue is thereafter automatically pushedmainly horizontally into the tongue groove by the compressed fibresand/or by the strip and the locking element that snaps and springs backtowards its initial position.

This type of vertical and horizontal snapping of the short edges isdescribed as a locking system that could be combined with a long edgeslocking system that could be connected by angling. Long edge lockingsystems are shown which are mainly designed to lock the long edges suchthat they form a tight fit. Such long edge locking systems wereoriginally used in combination with a horizontal snap system on theshort edges. They were designed such that they could be displacedhorizontally in order to lock the short edges with a horizontal snapaction. The snapping is made with a hammer and a tapping block.

According to the known technology, a whole floor is intended to beinstalled with an angling action only where a long edge of a new“folding panel” is connected with angling to a first panel in a firstrow and where a short edge of this folding panel is connected with thesame angling action by a vertical snap to a short edge of a second panelin a second row.

Such known locking systems, hereafter referred to as “vertical snapfolding” systems have however not been successful on the market sincethey suffer from several major disadvantages as described below.

Displacement Friction

A vertical snap folding of this type requires a displacement of thefolding panel along its long edge during the final stage of the foldingaction when the folding panel is angled down to the sub floor and whenthe short edges are connected by a combined vertical and horizontal snapaction which is required to bring the small tongue into the tonguegroove. There is a risk that the short edge locking system will not lockautomatically since it is not able to overcome the friction between thelong edges and to pull together the panels to the final locked position.The friction between the long edges is high mainly due to the geometryof the locking systems but also due to production tolerances, swelling,shrinking and bending of the panels. A gap between the short edges willin most cases remain after the folding and the panels must be displacedhorizontally with a hammer and a tapping block along the locked longedges in order to finally lock the short edges. This make installationcomplicated and there is a great risk that the locking system could bedamaged. It is not possible to use just a lose connection on the longside with low friction that could compensate for the swelling andbending since this will give a low quality locking system with forexample open gaps and the locking system will not be able to preventmoisture and dirt to penetrate into the joint.

Small Tongue

The design of the short edge locking system is such that a tip of thetongue that is inserted into the tongue groove is made very small inorder to allow vertical snapping without damaging parts of the lockingsystem during the vertical pressing of the short edges. The contactsurfaces between the upper part of the tongue and the tongue groove aretherefore made very small and they are generally rounded or inclined inorder to allow the insertion of the tongue into the groove. The verticallocking it not reliable and strong enough and an undesired unlockingcould occur during swelling and shrinking of the installed floor or whena heavy load is applied on the floor surface.

Flexibility and Guiding

The design of the strip and the locking element is such that theflexibility of the strip and the vertical guiding of the locking elementinto the locking groove are not sufficient to guarantee a reliable andeasy locking. The edges must be knocked together with a hammer and atapping block or pressed very hard vertically against each other. Partsof the locking system are often damaged during such installations.

The inventor has discovered that such installation problems often occurwhen the panels are thin, for example 6-9 mm and have a width of morethan 100 mm, for example 100-300 mm. Such panels are very flexible andthe long edges are not able to support the middle parts of the shortedges and keep them in a vertically locked position. The small tonguecould snap out vertically when people walk on the floor. The verticalsnap resistance during installation is considerable. Some panels areespecially difficult to handle for example long panels, panels withcompact locking systems or with locking systems locked with pre tensionand panels comprising core materials with rough fibre structures. Allsuch panels could be very difficult to displace in locked position alongthe long edges and they are in principle not possible to lock with avertical snap action without major problems.

In order to overcome these problems locking systems have been developedthat do not require a displacement of a panel during vertical locking.Such displacement is replaced by a displacement of a flexible tongue.Such flexible tongue locking systems, for example as described in WO2006/043893 (Vätinge), comprise a separate flexible tongue with aprotruding part that could be displaced horizontally during locking. Apanel with a flexible and displaceable tongue is very easy to lockvertically without the use of a hammer and a tapping block and solvesall the above-mentioned problems. The disadvantage of such systems isthat a separate tongue has to be produced and inserted into a panel edgeduring production.

A vertical snap folding system which requires a displacement of a panelduring the final stage of the locking could however be competitiveagainst the flexible tongue systems if the above mentioned disadvantagescould be eliminated since it is very easy and cost efficient to produce.The whole locking system could be formed in one piece with the core ofthe panel and no separate materials have to be produced with specialtools and inserted into the short edge.

The invention aims to solve installation problems in flooring which isintended to be installed with a vertical snap folding system having ashort edge locking system with a tongue formed in one piece with thepanel core and where the short edge locking system requires a horizontaldisplacement of a panel that is locked with its long edge to an adjacentpanel.

DEFINITION OF SOME TERMS

In the following text, the visible surface of the installed floor panelis called “front face”, while the opposite side of the floor panel,facing the sub floor, is called “rear face”. The edge between the frontand rear face is called “joint edge”. By “horizontal plane” is meant aplane, which extends parallel to the outer part of the surface layer.Immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of twojoined floor panels together define a “vertical plane” perpendicular tothe horizontal plane. By “horizontally” is meant parallel to thehorizontal plane and by “vertically” is meant parallel to the verticalplane. By “up” is meant towards the front face and by “down” towards therear face.

By “joint” or “locking system” are meant co acting connecting means,which connect the floor panels vertically and/or horizontally. By“mechanical locking system” is meant that joining can take place withoutglue. Mechanical locking systems can in many cases also be combined withgluing. By formed “in one piece” with the panel means formed bymachining of the panel core or by machining of a material that is fixedconnected to the panel. By “integrated with” means formed in one piecewith the panel or factory connected to the panel.

By “angling” is meant a connection that occurs by a turning motion,during which an angular change occurs between two parts that are beingconnected, or disconnected. When angling relates to connection of twofloor panels, the angular motion takes place with the upper parts ofjoint edges at least partly being in contact with each other, during atleast part of the motion.

By an “angling locking system” is meant a mechanical locking systemwhich could be connected vertically and horizontally with anglingcomprising a tongue and a grove that locks two adjacent edges in avertical direction and a locking strip with a locking element in oneedge of a panel called “strip panel” that cooperates with a lockinggroove on another edge of a panel called “grove panel” and locks theedges in a horizontal direction. The locking element and the lockinggroove have generally rounded guiding surfaces that guide the lockingelement into the locking groove and locking surfaces that locks andprevents horizontal separation between the edges.

By “vertical snap folding” is meant a connection of three panels wherethe long edges of a first and second panel are in a connected state withat least a part of their locking systems in contact and where an anglingaction of a long edge of a new panel, referred to as the “foldingpanel”, automatically and without the use of tool such as a hammer and atapping block, connects a long edge of the folding panel to a long edgeof the first panel and a short edge of the folding panel to a short edgeof the second panel. The short edges of the panels are designed suchthat they could not be folded together along a vertical plane with theirtop edges in contact since they are spaced apart during folding by apart of the vertical locking system, for example a tongue, which is notpossible to compress or displace during locking in order to bring thetop edges into contact. The locking of the short edges is therefore atype of a double snap action where a vertical and horizontaldisplacement is required in order to accomplish the locking. The firstvertical folding motion of the short edges takes place gradually fromone short edge part to the other as scissors when the folding panel isangled down to the sub floor. The second motion is an essentiallyhorizontal displacement of the whole folding panel during the finalstage of the folding motion.

With “installation angle” is meant the generally used angel between twopanels which are in the initial stage of an angling installation whenone panel is in an upwardly angled position and pressed with its upperedge against the upper edge of another panel laying flat on the subfloor. The installation angle is generally about 25 degrees. A part ofthe tongue is in the tongue groove and the upper part of the lockingelement has not entered the lover part of the locking groove.

With “displacement angle” is meant an angle between two floor panelsduring angling when a part of the tongue has entered a tongue groove andupper part of the locking element has entered a locking groove andprevents a horizontal separation of the edges and when there issufficient space, gaps or plays between parts of the locking systems toallow easy displacement of the long edges along the adjacent edges.

With “locking angle” is meant the angle of the long edges when they arecompletely or almost completely locked with their locking surfaces iscontact. The locking angle is in most cases zero and the panels arelaying flat on the sub floor with their front faces parallel to thehorizontal plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention aim at a set of floor panels or afloating flooring with a mechanical locking system, which will improveinstallation of floor panels installed with vertical snap folding.

The invention is based on a first basic understanding that the problemswith a vertical snap folding installation are mainly related to thelocking system at the long edges and not to the short edges. All knownangling locking systems, especially the majority that comprises a stripwith a locking element in one edge that cooperates with a locking groovein an adjacent edge, are very easy to displace along the joint when thefloor panels are in an initial angled position in relation to eachother. The friction increases considerably at a low angle, when thefloor panels are almost in a locked position. This means that thefriction between the long edges is at its maximum level when the longedges must be displaced in order to allow the short edges to be lockedto each other with the vertical and horizontal snapping action. The longedge friction makes installation difficult and unreliable and there is aconsiderable risk that the locking system on the short edge will bedamaged.

The invention is based on a second understanding that the combinedfunction of the long edge locking system and the short edge lockingsystem is essential in a floor, which is designed to be installed withvertical snap folding. Long and short edge locking systems should beadapted to each other in order to provide a simple, easy and reliableinstallation. The long edges must be easy to displace mainly duringlocking. However, it is in fact an advantage in the installed floor thatthey are not to lose since the whole row could slide against an adjacentrow and dirt could penetrate into the joint. The short edge lockingsystem should be very flexible in order to allow installation with a lowpressing force such that locking could be made without a hammer and atapping block. This flexibility must however be combined with two otherfeatures where flexibility is a disadvantage. The locking system shouldgive a strong lock and prevent separation of the edges when the floatingfloor shrinks for example during the winter period. The short edgelocking system and should also be able to overcome the friction on thelong edges and to pull the panels automatically together during thefinal stage of the vertical snap action.

The invention is based on a third understanding that the verticallocking between the tongue and the tongue groove on the short edge mustbe improved in order to guarantee a reliable locking function especiallyin thin and wide floor panels. The short edge locking system must besuch that it allows a tongue with larger and more horizontal contactsurfaces to be connected into a tongue groove and preferably also with alower pressing force such that the installation could be made with ahand pressure only and without tools.

A first objective of embodiments of the invention is to solve thefriction problem caused by the displacement of the long edges duringinstallation with a vertical snap folding locking system.

A second objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a floorpanel with long and short edge locking systems that could be locked witha vertical snap folding and with a lower vertical pressing force thanthe known systems.

The invention provides for new embodiments of locking systems at longand short edges according to different aspects offering respectiveadvantages. The invention provides embodiments of a new method toinstall floor panels with vertical snap action. Useful areas for theinvention are building panels such as wall panels, ceilings andespecially floor panels of any shape and material e.g. laminate;especially panels with surface materials contain thermosetting resins,wood, HDF, veneer, paint, resilient plastic materials, plastic ortextile fibres, linoleum, Cork and similar and core materials such aswood, HDF, particle board, plywood and similar materials.

Embodiments of the invention comprise according a first aspect of thefirst objective a set of essentially identical floor panels eachcomprising long and short edges provided with a mechanical lockingsystem comprising first and second connectors integrated with the floorpanels, and wherein immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacentjoint edges of two joined floor panels together define a vertical planeperpendicular to the main plane of the panels. The first connectorcomprises a locking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, ata first edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardlyopen locking groove at an adjacent second edge of another floor panelfor connecting the adjacent edges in a horizontal directionperpendicular to the vertical plane. The second connector comprises atongue, either at the first or at the second edge, extendinghorizontally perpendicular to the vertical plane, configured tocooperate with a horizontally open tongue groove at the other of saidfirst or second edge for connecting the adjacent edges in a verticaldirection parallel to the vertical plane. The connectors at the longedges are configured to be locked with angling and the connectors at theshort edge are configured to be locked with vertical snap folding,whereby a long edge of a new panel in a second row is configured to beconnected to a long edge of a first panel in a first row by angling,whereby a second short edge of the new panel and a first short edge of asecond panel in the second row are configured to be connected with thesame angling motion. The tongue at one of the short edges is formed inone piece with the panel and protrudes from a substantially verticalupper surface at said one short edge. The locking strip at the shortedges is bendable, to obtain a resilient bending during the verticalsnap folding action, which bending facilitates the assembling of thetongue and the tongue groove. The first and the second connector at thelong edges are configured to obtain a minimum of friction facilitating adisplacement, by a spring back force from the bending of the short edgelocking strip, of the new panel in the horizontal direction along thelong edge during the vertical snap folding action.

The first aspect offers the advantage that the locking takes placeautomatically and that no side pressure has to be applied in order tolock the panels. The locking system on the short edge with its bendablestrip is capable to overcome the friction between the long edges and topull together the edges automatically. Only an angling action issufficient to lock the floor panels and such locking could be made witha hand pressure and without tools

Embodiments of the invention comprise according a second aspect of thefirst objective an installation method to eliminate displacementfriction between long edges and to connect rectangular floor panelsvertically and horizontally with vertical snap folding vertically andhorizontally along long and short edges.

Rectangular floor panels are provided with mechanically locking systemsat the long and the short edges. The short edges comprise a verticalsnap folding system and the long edges an angling locking system. Themethod comprises the steps of:

-   -   a) laying a first panel flat on a sub floor.    -   b) bringing a second panel in an angled position with its long        edge in contact with a long edge of the first panel.    -   c) bringing a long edge of a new panel in an angled position and        in contact with an upper part of a long edge of the first panel,        whereby the new panel has a higher angle against the sub floor        than the second panel,    -   d) bringing a short edge of the new panel in contact with a        short edge of the second panel,    -   e) pressing and displacing the short edge of the new panel        downward and horizontally along the long edge towards the short        edge section of the second panel and thereby connecting the        edges of the first and the second panels to each other in an        essentially common plane with a vertical snap folding,    -   f) angling the new and the second panel downward towards the sub        floor and thereby finally connecting the first, second and third        panel to each other in a common plane with vertical snap        folding.

The second aspect offer the advantages that the connection of the shortedges with vertical snap folding is made when the panels are in anangled position and when the long edges are easy to displace. Theinstallation could be made very easy and with a limited friction force,even in the case that the panels are locked with a tight fit and/or highfriction between the long edges when they are finally angled down to thefloor. A whole row could be connected with a vertical snap folding in anangled position and the whole row could thereafter be angled down. A rowcould also be folded down partly and gradually during installation ifthe panels are thin and flexible. A very low angle of for example only afew degrees could be sufficient to bring the long edges in a positionwhere the friction is considerably lower than in an locking angle whenthe panels are laying on the sub floor connected in a common plane.

Embodiments of the invention comprise according a first aspect of thesecond objective a set of essentially identical floor panels eachcomprising long and short edges provided with a mechanical lockingsystem comprising first and second connectors integrated with the floorpanels. Immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edgesof two joined floor panels together define a vertical planeperpendicular to the main plane of the panels. The first connectorcomprises a locking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, ata first edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardlyopen locking groove at an adjacent second edge of another floor panelfor connecting the adjacent edges horizontally in a directionperpendicular to the vertical plane. The second connector comprises atongue, either at the first or the second edge, extending horizontallyperpendicular to vertical plane, configured to cooperate with ahorizontally open tongue groove, at the other of said first or secondedge, for connecting the adjacent edges in vertical direction parallelto the vertical plane. The connectors at the long edges are configuredto be locked with angling and the connectors at the short edge areconfigured to be locked with vertical snap folding. The tongue at one ofthe short edges is formed in one piece with the panel and configured toprotrude from a substantially vertical upper surface at the short edgewith the tongue. The mechanical locking system at the long edges isconfigured such that a new panel is displaceable verticallysubstantially along the vertical plane of a first panel and relative thefirst panel when the new floor panel is in an angled position inrelation to the first floor panel and with the tongue within the tonguegroove and the upper part of the locking element within the lockinggroove.

This first aspect of the second objective offers the advantages theshort edge of the new panel could move vertically in an installationangle. This means that the short edge of this new panel could be presseddown towards a second panel that also is in an installation angle andthat such pressing could be made with the short edges of the new andsecond floor panels in a substantial parallel position. This embodimentof the invention allows that vertical snap folding of the short edgescould be made easier with a lower pressing force than with the presentknown technology. No tools such as a hammer and a tapping block areneeded and easy installation could be combined with a strong verticaland horizontal locking.

Embodiments of the invention comprise according a second aspect of thesecond objective a set of essentially identical floor panels eachcomprising long and short edges. The short edges are provided with amechanical locking system comprising first and second connectorsintegrated with the floor panels. The first connector comprises alocking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, at a firstshort edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardlyopen locking groove at an adjacent second short edge of another floorpanel for connecting the adjacent edges horizontally. The secondconnector comprises a tongue, either at the first or the second shortedge, extending horizontally, configured to cooperate with ahorizontally open tongue groove, at the other of said first or secondshort edges, for connecting the adjacent edges in vertical directionconfigured to be locked with a vertical motion. The tongue at one of theshort edges is formed in one piece with the panel and configured toprotrude from a substantially vertical upper surface at the short edgewith the tongue. An upper surface of the tongue is substantiallyparallel to a locking surface of the locking groove. The angle of theupper surface of the tongue and the locking surface of the lockinggroove against the horizontal plane is more than about 50 degrees. Theshort edge with the tongue groove is provided with a second tongue abovethe tongue groove, which tongue protrudes horizontally.

This second aspect of the second objective offers the advantages thatthe locking system on the short edges, comprising two tongues could belocked easier and without any sharp surface portions in contact with thetongue during the folding. Only the two tongues, which both could haverather smooth surfaces, will be in contact with each other duringfolding. A lower pressing force than with the present known technologycould be used.

All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step,etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least oneinstance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unlessexplicitly stated otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings show exemplary embodiments, to which the claimedinvention is not limited.

FIGS. 1 a-c show a short edge locking system according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIGS. 2 a-b show a long edge locking system according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIGS. 3 a-c show installation of floor panels according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIGS. 4 a-c show installation of short edges with a combined verticaland horizontal snap action according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5 a-d show installation of floor panels according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIGS. 6 a-b shows the function of the long and short edges duringinstallation with vertical snap folding according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGS. 7 a-b shows how a short edge strip could be formed according toembodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 8 a-g show embodiments of locking systems according to theinvention.

FIGS. 9 a-d show embodiments of locking systems according to theinvention.

FIGS. 10 a-c show embodiments of long and short side locking systemsaccording to the invention.

FIGS. 11 a-d show embodiments of locking systems according to theinvention where short sides are locked with long sides.

FIGS. 12 a-c show embodiments of short side locking systems according tothe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 a shows a locking system that could be used to lock adjacentedges of essentially identical panels, comprising a core 40, a surfacelayer 41 and a balancing layer 42, vertically and horizontally and thatcould be used to install panels with a vertical snap folding action. Thelocking system has a strip 6 extending from a vertical plane VP with anupwardly extending locking element 8 in a first panel edge 4 a and adownwardly open locking groove 14 in a second adjacent panel edge 4 b.The locking element 8 cooperates with the locking groove 14 and locksthe adjacent edges 4 a, 4 b in a horizontal direction perpendicular tothe vertical plane VP and parallel to a horizontal plane HP. The lockingsystem has a tongue 10 in the second panel edge 4 b, the folding panel,extending from the vertical plane VP and a tongue groove 9 in the firstpanel edge, the strip panel, for vertical locking of the adjacent edges.The strip 6, locking element 8, the locking groove 14, the tongue 10 andthe tongue groove 9 are formed in one piece with the panel. The lockingelement has a locking surface 11 and an upper guiding surface 15 in itsupper part adjacent to the locking surface 11. The locking surface 11 ispreferably essentially planner and extends upwardly to a guiding surface15 which could be inclined or rounded. The upper guiding surface 15comprises parts that are less inclined against the horizontal plane HPthan the locking surface 11. The locking groove 14 has a groove lockingsurface 12 that cooperates with the locking element locking surface 11and prevents essential separation of the adjacent edges in thehorizontal direction. The locking groove has also a lower guidingsurface 16 at its lower part adjacent to the groove locking surface 12that comprises parts that are less inclined against the horizontal planethan the locking surface 12. The tongue 10 has upper 33 and lower 36contact surfaces that cooperate with adjacent upper 34 and lower 35contact surfaces of the tongue groove 9 and lock the adjacent edges inthe vertical direction. The strip 6 comprises three parts, an innergroove part P1 located between the inner part of the tongue groove 9 andthe vertical plane VP, an outer locking part P3 located between theouter part of the strip 6 and a vertical locking plane VPL comprisingthe locking surfaces 11,12, and an intermediate flexible part P2 locatedbetween the inner groove part P1 and the outer locking part P3. Thethree parts P1+P2+P3 should preferably be larger than the floorthickness T. The flexibility will improve if P1+P2 are larger than thefloor thickness. A lower part 6 a of the strip 6, extending at leastover a part of the intermediate part P2 and preferably also over thewhole outer locking part P3 is located in a plane which is above therear face of the panel. Such a strip with an essentially upwardlyextending lower side 6 a could be made very flexible and the strip 6could be bent downwards during the vertical snap folding action withoutcontact with the sub floor or an underlay 2 laying on the sub floor. Thehorizontal locking will be more reliable if at least a part of thebalancing layer 42 within the intermediate flexible part P2 is removedfrom the lower part of the strip 6. The balancing layer could causeunpredictable strip bending after machining of the locking system andwhen humidity changes. An essential feature of this locking system isthat the tongue 10 preferably extends from the vertical plane VP over atongue distance TD, which is at least 0.1 times the floor thickness T orabout at least 0.8 mm. This guarantees a reliable vertical locking thatwill not be unlocked after installation when the panels swell and shrinkand are subject to heavy load on the surface. It is preferred that theupper contact surfaces are essentially planner and parallel to thehorizontal plane. With essentially planer is meant an angle to thehorizontal plane of about 0-10 degrees and in the case that the surfacehas a curved shape, a tangent line that does not exceed about 10degrees. Upper contact surfaces that are completely planer (about +−3degrees) or almost planer (about +−5 degrees) are even more preferablesince they give a stronger locking and the production tolerances areeasier to handle. Of course higher angles could also be used for exampleeven up to about 45 degrees and more, provided that the locking surfaces11,12 have an locking angle A which preferably is higher, preferably atleast about 10-30 degrees higher, than the angle of the upper contactsurfaces 33,34. Embodiments where the locking surface has a lower anglethan the upper contact surfaces are not excluded. Parts of the lockingelement and the locking groove extends preferably over a lockingdistance LD, defined as the horizontal extension of the guiding surfaces15,16 and the locking surfaces 11, 12, that is equal or larger than thetongue distance TD. The guiding surfaces 15,16 comprises all parts ofthe upper part of locking element 8 and the lower part of the lockinggroove 14 that are inclined against the horizontal plane HP of at leastabout 25 degrees. Lower angles will in most cases not give a sufficientguiding function. This design ensures that the guiding surfaces 15,16will grip behind each other and press the locking strip downwards duringan initial stage of the locking action and then to pull the tongue 10into the tongue groove 9 during the final stage of the locking when thelocking element 8 is guided and snapped vertically into the lockinggrove 14. Such a locking system could have a considerable pulling forcethat automatically could overcome the friction between the long edgesand displace the panels horizontally into a final locked position. It ispreferred the guiding surfaces are inclined at least about 25 degreesagainst the horizontal plane but less than about 60 degrees. All anglesare defined as the locking angel A in FIG. 1 a. An especially preferredembodiment is characterized in that the locking surfaces and the guidingsurfaces are essentially planner and that the locking surfaces have anangle of about 50 to 90 degrees and the guiding surfaces an angle ofabout 30-50 degrees. The locking surface could also have an angleexceeding 90 degrees. The inner groove part P1 of the shown embodimentis preferably larger than two times the tongue distance TD. Such adesign will improve the locking function since the strip and also theupper part 9 a of the locking groove will be more flexible. The upperpart 9 a could be slightly bended upwards during locking when the tongueenters the tongue groove.

FIG. 1 b show the position of the panels 4 a, 4 b during the verticalsnap folding when the guiding surfaces 15,16 are in contact with eachother. A further vertical motion V of the folding panel 4 b will pressand bend the strip 6 downwards as shown in FIG. 1 c and the tongue 10inwards towards the adjacent edge until the upper part of the tongue 10reaches the opening of the tongue groove 9. The guiding surfaces willthan press the tongue 10 into the tongue groove 9 and the new panel willbe displaced horizontally H essentially over a distance which is equalto the tongue distance TD. The horizontal displacement might be slightlysmaller than the tongue distance TD due to fibre compression betweenparts of the locking system.

FIG. 2 a shows a long edge locking system that could be locked withangling. The adjacent edges 1″ and 1′ are in a displacement angle, whichin the shown embodiment is about 5-8 degrees. A displacement angle couldbe between about 1 and 20 degrees or even larger depending of the designof the locking system. A part of the tongue 10 has entered the tonguegroove and prevents vertical separation. An upper part of the lockingelement 8, in this embodiment the guiding surface 15, has entered alower part of the locking groove 14, in this embodiment the part thatforms the guiding surface 16, and prevents a horizontal separation ofthe edges 1″, 1′. The figure shows that there is sufficient space, gapsor plays between parts of the locking systems for example between theparts that locks horizontally such as the upper edges 31, 32 and/or thelocking element 8 and the locking groove 14, and the parts that locksvertically such as the upper and/or the lower parts of the tongue 10 andthe tongue groove 9. This allows easy displacement of the adjacent longedges along the joint in an up angled position. Most known lockingsystems are easy to displace in an up angled position and many are alsopossible to adjust such that panels with such systems could be easy todisplace in an displacement angle when they are angled the edges arepartly locked vertically and horizontally.

FIG. 2 b shows that a locking system also could be easy to displace in alocking angle when the edges are completely in a final locked position.The adjacent operative contact surfaces between the upper parts of thejoint edges 31,32, the upper and lower tongue and tongue grove contactsurfaces 33,34,35,36 and the locking surfaces 11,12 have been reduced toa minimum and there are spaces or plays between all other non-operativesurfaces. This embodiment is characterized in that all operativesurfaces that in a locked position are in contact with each other aresuch that they extend over a total length, which is less than the floorthickness, preferably about 0.4-0.6 times the floor thickness T. Such alocking system will be easy to displace especially if there is a smallplay between the locking surfaces when the top edges are pushed againsteach other. Such a play could be very small and it is sufficient that itallows displacement. It could also be in the magnitude of 0-0.01 mmonly. It will reduce the friction and will be visible as a small gap ofsome 0.01 mm when the panels are pulled away from each other with aforce equal to ⅓ of the maximum locking force when panels are unlockedfrom each other. It could be mentioned as a non-limiting example that astrong vertical and horizontal locking could be obtained with operativecontact surfaces that are very small especially in HDF material. Alocking system could have a design with a cross section where thelocking surfaces (12,12) or upper contact surfaces (31,32) could be forexample only 0.3 mm. Upper and lower contact surfaces could for examplehave a horizontal extension of about 0.5 mm. The total length of theoperative surfaces could be reduced to about 3.2 mm in a laminate floorwith a thickness of 8 mm.

FIGS. 3 a-3 c show locking of three panels with a vertical snap folding.The long edge 5 b of the panels 1, 1′ is shown as cut of part in orderto simplify the description of the short edge locking system. This edgeof a full size panel has of course a strip with a locking element. FIG.3 a show that a long edge 5 b of a first panel 1″ in a first row R1 islocked to an adjacent long edge of second panel 1 in a second row R2. Anew panel 1′ in the second row is locked by angling with its long edge 5a to the long edge 5 b of the first panel 1″. FIG. 3 a shows theposition of the new folding panel 1, when an inner part IP of the shortedge locking strip 6 is partly bended downwards. The locking systems onthe long 5 a, 5 b and short edges 4 a, 4 b are designed such that thepanels will automatically slide in a locked position when a verticalpressure force PF will be applied on the short edge 4 b of the foldpanel 1′. It is a major advantage if such a locking could be madewithout the use of tools such as a hammer and a tapping block that iscommonly used to connect floor panels with horizontal snapping. Thepressure could be as low as about 100 N and even lower. The lockingsystems could also be designed to lock automatically with a pressureforce PF of for example about 200 N. The floor panels could then beinstalled with a one hand pressure only. If a pressure force of about400 N is required, generally two hands should be used to press down theedge. A pressure force of more than about 600 N is not appropriate sincethis requires that the installer has to press very hard or to walk onthe edge or to hammer the panels together. A locking system that couldbe locked automatically with a pressure force on the short edge of100-400 N is ideal since this gives an easy installation with a stronglocking and a pulling force that is able to overcome a considerablefriction between the long edges.

The function of the short edge locking system, locking the adjacentedges 4 a and 4 b of the second 1 and the new 1′ panels, will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 a-4 c that show a crosssection A-A at an inner part close to the locked long edge 5 a, an outercross section C-C close to the free long edge and a middle cross sectionB-B located between the inner and outer sections.

FIG. 4 a show that the inner part A-A is almost in lowest position andthe strip 6 is bent to its maximum bending position. FIG. 4 b show thatthe middle section B-B is in a position where parts of the lockingelement 8 and the locking groove 14 are in contact, in this embodimentthe guiding surfaces 15, 16. FIG. 4 c show that the locking of the outerpart C-C has not started yet and the locking element 8 is not in contactwith the locking groove 14. This means that the edge 4 b cannot bedisplaced horizontally until the whole panel edge has been brought intoan essentially horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 4 a, and thefriction between the long edges 5 a,5 b is on its maximum level. Thisposition, with a gap G between top edges, is shown in FIG. 3 b. Avertical snap folding is a type of locking where the edge is displacedgradually vertically from one inner part to an outer part. The strip 6must therefore be designed such that it can both bend downwardsvertically but also that it could be twisted vertically from one edgepart to the other along the joint during the vertical locking motion.Such a design is shown in FIG. 1 a-1 c. FIG. 3 c shows the second 1 andthe new 1′ panels in a locked position after the horizontal displacementD, which occurs when the strip 6 snaps back toward its initial position.Such a snap pull back force must exceed the friction resistance betweenthe long edges. The locking system between long edges 5 a,5 b must bedesigned such that it allows a displacement in a locking angle when thepanels are locked in the same plane. The panels are according to thisembodiment of the invention configured such that the locking system onthe short edges, for example a locking system as show in FIG. 1, and alocking system on the long edges, for example a locking system as shownin FIG. 2 b, are designed such that a pullback force on the short edgesexceeds the friction between the long edges and allow automatically alocking with a vertical snap action and without any side pressure.

FIGS. 5 a-5 d show an installation method according to the invention.The same vertical snap folding motion as shown in FIGS. 3 a-3 c takesplace with a vertical displacement and twisting of the strip 6 until thesecond 1 and new 1′ panels are essentially in the same plane as shown inFIG. 5 b. The panels are thereafter displaced horizontally by thehorizontal pulling force between the locking element 8 and the lockinggroove 14 caused by the strip 6 that snaps back towards the initialposition as shown in FIG. 5 c. This horizontal displacement D takesplace when the second and the new panels are angled against each otherat least in an installation angle or preferably in a displacement anglewhere the friction between the long edges is lower than in a lockingangle when the panels are locked in an essentially common plane. Thesecond 1 and the new panel 1′ are thereafter angled down to the subfloor as shown in FIG. 5 d. The installation with this vertical snapfolding method in angled position is facilitated if for example a wedge40 or a similar device is used that keeps the panels in for example adisplacement angle during the vertical snap folding. FIG. 5 d shows thatthe friction between the long edges could also be reduced if the panelsare twisted during installation. Especially thin laminate flooringscould be installed with such twisting of the new pane 1. The free shortedge 50 has during the vertical snap folding action a higher angle thanthe locked edge 4 b. The twisting could be done with or without a wedge.The panels are according to this embodiment of the invention configuredsuch that the locking system on the short edges, for example a lockingsystem as show in FIG. 1, and a locking system on the long edges, forexample a locking system as shown in FIG. 2 a, are designed such that apullback force on the short edges exceeds the friction between the longedges and allows a locking automatically with a vertical snap actionwhen the panels are in a displacement angle. It is obvious that when thefirst two panels in a first row are installed, the locking could takeplace with a displacement of the strip panel, the folding panel or bothpanels and a twisting of any edge section could take place.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show vertical snap folding and the vertical pressureforces created by the twisting of the strip 6 on the short edge. FIG. 6a shows a position where the locking element 8 and the locking groove ofa second 1 and a new 1′ panel, at an inner section A-A, similar to FIG.4 a, are in an initial contact angle. Further angling, as shown in FIG.6 b, will create a vertical pressure force which will press the uppercontact surfaces 33,34 towards each other and the friction at a part ofthe long edges close to the short edges will increase in a locking angleand in a displacement angle. The short edges of especially thin panelscould be curved and this prevents an easy installation since theinstaller has to press on several parts of the short edge duringinstallation. In thicker or narrow panels a centre pressure at a middlesection B-B could be sufficient.

FIGS. 7 a-7 b show how such a vertical strip pressure could be reduced.The locking element could be removed at an edge section ES of the strip6 close the long edge 5 a which comprises the tongue 10. FIG. 7 b showthat vertical pressure could be reduced and twisting of the strip 6could be facilitated if parts 42 of the strip 6 will be removed suchthat the horizontal extension of the strip will wary along the joint.

FIG. 8 a show that a short edge locking system could for example havetwo tongues 10,10′ and two tongue grooves 9, 9′ and that the tongue 10or the tongue groove 9 could be located on the strip panel 4 a or on thefold panel 4 b. A double tongue system offers the advantage that no partof the locking system needs to be in contact with the upper sharp edge17 of the surface, as can be seen in FIG. 4 c, during the folding. Thisis an advantage especially in laminate floorings with a sharp laminateedge and a core of HDF. Such core is much softer than the laminatesurface and could be partly compressed during folding.

FIGS. 8 b and 8 c show that a long edge angling system according to theinvention could also be formed as a tongue lock where a tongue 10 with alocking element 8 a at its upper part locks into a groove 9 which hasupper and lower lips 6 a, 6 b and an undercut part 14 a cooperating withthe locking element 8 a.

FIGS. 8 d and 8 e show that the locking system shown in FIG. 1 could belocked with angling and also with a combined horizontal and verticalsnap action, provided that the tongue 10, the tongue grove 9 and thelocking element 8 are adjusted according to for example FIG. 8 e. Suchlocking systems could be used on long and short edges. They could beidentical or of a similar type where the geometries have been adapted tospecific requirements long and short edges. This means that theinvention according to the first and the third principles could also beused to connect floor panels long edge to short edge with vertical snapfolding in for example a diamond pattern, as shown in FIG. 8 f, or in aherringbone pattern where mirror inverted locking systems with A and Bboards could be used as described in WO 03/025307 and shown in FIG. 8 g.FIG. 8 f show that a short edge of a second panel 1 is locked forexample with angling, vertical snapping or horizontal snapping to a longedge of a first panel 1″. A long edge of new panel 1′ is locked withangling to the long edge of the second panel 1 and a short edge of thenew panel 1′ is locked with vertical snap folding to the first panel 1″.FIG. 8 g shows a first A-type panel A1 connected with a long edge to ashort edge of a first B-type panel B1 and a short edge to a long edge ofa second B-type panel B2. A long edge of a new A-type panel A2 isinstalled with angling to a long edge of a first A-type panel A1 and toa short edge of a second B-type panel B2. A short edge of the new A-typepanel A2 is installed with vertical snap folding to the long edge of thefirst B-type panel B1.

FIG. 9 a shows an embodiment of a vertical sliding locking system thatcould be locked with a combined vertical and horizontal sliding along atongue plane TP, comprising the upper contact surfaces of the tongue 33and the tongue groove 34 and a groove plane GP, comprising the groovelocking surface 12 and the locking element locking surface 11. Thesesurfaces are in this embodiment substantially plane but they could alsobe curved. The tongue and the groove planes TP,GP are in such a casetangent lines to the curves. The tongue plane TP and the groove plane GPare in this embodiment parallel and have a plane angle PA of about 50degrees to the horizontal plane HP. The strip panel 4 a will be lockedto the fold panel 4 b when the fold panel is displaced vertically andhorizontally along the tongue plane TP as can be seen in FIGS. 9 c and 9d. This locking and unlocking could be obtained without any bending ofthe strip 6 and without any resistance. Such a locking requires howeverthat substantially the whole edge of the fold pane could be displacedvertically over a specific vertical locking distance VLD defined by thegeometry of the locking system and such that a vertical locking isobtained during the vertical displacement. It is obvious that such avertical displacement could be made when for example when both panelsare laying on the floor with the folding panel edge 4 b over the strippanel edge 4 a and when these two edges are parallel. Such adisplacement is however not possible if the folding panel 4 a is in anangled position, which is substantially the displacement angle. This isthe case when a vertical folding installation is used. The inner part ofthe short edge 20, as shown in FIG. 5 a will be locked by the longsides, as shown in FIG. 2 a, and cannot be displaced vertically along avertical plane VP.

It is not necessary that the tongue plane TP and the groove plane GP areparallel. A groove plane GP could for example have a plane angle PA ofabout 70 degrees and the tongue plane TP could have a plane angle PA offor example about 60 degrees. This will increase the locking strength. Alocking could be made with a small bending of the strip 6 and/or acompression of fibres or surfaces in the locking system. This lockingcould be made with very small locking resistance. Any other anglecombination could be used but it is of course preferable that the grooveplane has a higher angle than the tongue plane.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b shows a locking system that is possible to displacevertically along a vertical displacement distance VDD in a displacementangle when the upper part of the locking element 8 is partly in thelocking groove 14 and prevents horizontal displacement. Such a lockingsystem could be designed in many different ways. This preferredembodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 a. The tongue 10is protruding horizontally from the upper edge over a considerablylarger distance, for example more than 0.2 times the floor thickness,the upper tongue and groove contact surfaces 33,34 have been movedtowards the outer part of the tongue 10 and are displaced inwardly andhorizontally relative the lower tongue and groove contact surfaces35,36. A large bevel 21 has been introduced in the upper lip, whichextends over a vertical distance, which is about 0.5 times the distanceof the protruding tongue. FIG. 10 c show a preferred embodiment wherethe vertical locking distance VLD of the folding panel 1′ issubstantially the same as the vertical displacement distance VDD of thelong side locking system in a displacement angle, as shown in FIG. 10 a.Such a combination gives a very easy vertical folding especially if thetongue and groove planes have substantially the same angle. Preferableangles are for example TP/GP=50/50, 60/60, 50/60 and 60/70 and similarcombinations. All other embodiments could be used. The strip panel andthe folding panel could be designed according to the embodiments ofFIGS. 1 a-1 c. A long edge locking system that allows verticaldisplacement in a displacement angle will also improve vertical foldingwith a locking system comprising substantially horizontal uppertongue/groove contact surfaces 33,34.

FIG. 11 a show a second 1 and new panel 1′ with short edges 4 a,4 bhaving a locking system as described in FIG. 9 a. FIG. 11 c shows thatsuch a locking system has no horizontal locking strength since it couldeasily slide out along the tongue plane when a pulling force PF isapplied. The fold panel 4 b slides up horizontally and vertically. FIG.11 d show that such upward motion will be prevented by the long edges 5a and 5 b when panels in the first row R1 and the third row R3 areconnected to the long sides of the second 1 and new panels rin thesecond row R2. Vertical and horizontal separation of the edges 4 a,4 bcan only take place if the panels are able to move vertically and thisis prevented by the locking system at the long edges (5 a,5 b). Theshort edges could therefore be locked very easily without any resistanceand they are at the same time prevented to unlock by the locking systemat the long edges that preferably should have a tight fit between thetongue and grove in order to prevent “over wood”. The invention providesa very simple and easy locking with vertical folding that could becombined with a strong locking in vertical and horizontal direction.

FIG. 12 a-12 c show that the vertical sliding locking principle could becombined with the double tongue principle. The locking system has atongue 10, 10′ on the folding panel 4 b and on the strip panel 4 a. Thetongue plane has in this embodiment a plane angle PA that is lower thanthe plane angle PA′ of the groove plane in order to increase thevertical locking strength. This means that some compression or bendingmust occur during folding, providing that the locking system has a tightfit. The double tongue principles make it possible to avoid displacementalong the sharp surface edge during vertical folding. A compression ofthe tips of the two tongues during folding will allow an easier lockingwith higher strength.

It is obvious that two or more or even all of the principles describedabove could be combined and that all embodiments of locking systemsdescribed in this application could be used in combinations orindependently to connect long and/or short edges. The figures are onlyused to show examples of different embodiments, which could be used invarious combinations on long and short edges in a same panel type or indifferent panel types intended to be connected to each other. Alllocking systems on long and/or short edges of a panel could be formed inone piece with the core or they could comprise separate materials, forexample a separate tongue and/or strip and/or locking element, whichcould be integrated with the floor panel or even connected duringinstallation. Also the locking groove and/or the tongue groove couldcomprise separate materials. It should be especially pointed out thatthe invention also comprises one piece locking systems on the shortedges where parts of the locking system, such as for example the tongueand/or the strip and/or the locking element, are flexible and preferablycomprise a wood fibre based material, for example HDF, and which couldbe locked by vertical snap folding, provided that such locking systemsmust be displaced at least partially in a horizontal direction duringthe vertical snap folding. A separate wood fibre based material such asHDF or plywood could also be fixed connected by for example gluing to apanel comprising a wood or wood lamella core and it could be machined toa locking system in the same way as the one piece system describedabove.

Embodiments of the invention are especially useful in floor panels witha size of a parquet strip for example a panel with a length of less thanabout 100 cm and a width of less than about 12 cm. A limited lengthgives a lower friction and a limited width gives more flexible panelswhere a “banana shaped” long edge will cause less friction than in awide and rigid panel. The invention is therefore also useful in long andnarrow flexible panels with for example a maximum width of about 10 cm.Other useful areas are floors with a tile shape for example where thelength does not exceed 3 times the width. Floors with such panel sizesof for example 30*45 cm or 30*60 cm could be made with low friction onthe long edges and a high pulling force on the short edges. Chemicalssuch as wax, oil and similar could be applied in the long edge lockingsystem in order to reduce friction during installation.

It is an advantage if the floorboards will not slide easily afterinstallation. Chemicals that are applied into the locking system couldbe designed to facilitate displacement during installation and to cureafter installation in order to prevent displacement after installation.Glue in the locking system is not excluded. Glue could be applied forexample in all long edge locking systems or only in some panels forexample only in the first or the last panel in each row. This willprevent displacement of a whole row against an adjacent row. Specialpanels with long edge locking systems having a high friction could besupplied and used for example as a first panel in each row. Mechanicaldevices could be supplied that are inserted in the locking system, forexample in the first panel in each row or under the panel or between thewall and the first and the last panel in each row, and such mechanicaldevices will prevent displacement after installation. Flexible materialsapplied between a short edge of a panel and a wall could preventdisplacement and compensate for swelling and shrinking of the panels. Anunderlay or a rear side of the panel with a high friction surface couldalso be used.

1. A set of essentially identical floor panels, each floor panelcomprising long and short edges provided with a mechanical lockingsystem comprising first and second connectors integrated with the floorpanels, and wherein immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacentjoint edges of two joined floor panels together define a vertical planeperpendicular to the main plane of the panels, the first connectorcomprises a locking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, ata first edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardlyopen locking groove at an adjacent second edge of another floor panelfor connecting the adjacent edges in a horizontal directionperpendicular to the vertical plane, the second connector comprises atongue, either at the first or at the second edge, extendinghorizontally perpendicular to the vertical plane, configured tocooperate with a horizontally open tongue groove at the other of saidfirst or second edge for connecting the adjacent edges in a verticaldirection parallel to the vertical plane, the connectors at the longedges are configured to be locked with angling and the connectors at theshort edge are configured to be locked with vertical snap folding,whereby a long edge of a new panel in a second row is configured to beconnected to a long edge of a first panel in a first row by angling,whereby a second short edge of the new panel and a first short edge of asecond panel in the second row are configured to be connected with thesame angling motion, wherein the tongue at one of the short edges isformed in one piece with the panel and protrudes from a substantiallyvertical upper surface at said one short edge, wherein the locking stripat the short edges is bendable, to obtain a resilient bending during thevertical snap folding action, which bending facilitates the assemblingof the tongue and the tongue groove, and wherein the first and thesecond connector at the long edges are configured to obtain a minimum offriction facilitating a displacement, by a spring back force from thebending of the short edge locking strip, of the new panel in thehorizontal direction along the long edge during the vertical snapfolding action.
 2. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1,wherein the tongue at the short edges is rigid such that the tongueprotrudes outside the upper vertical surface during the whole verticalsnap folding action.
 3. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1,wherein the tongue at the short edges comprises a material of woodfibres.
 4. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepanels have a thickness and wherein the tongue on the short edge extendsa tongue distance from the vertical plane which tongue distance is atleast 0.1 time the floor thickness.
 5. The set of floor panels asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue and the tongue groove on theshort edges have upper contact surfaces, which are essentially planarand horizontal.
 6. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1,wherein the locking element on the short edge has an guiding surface atan upper part and a locking surface below and adjacent to the guidingsurface and wherein the locking groove on the short edges has a guidingsurface on the lower part under and adjacent to a locking surface,wherein the locking surfaces are configured to cooperate to preventseparation of the panels in the horizontal direction and the guidingsurfaces are configured to cooperate to guide the locking element intothe locking groove during the vertical snap folding.
 7. The set of floorpanels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the short edge strip comprisesthree parts, an inner groove part located between the inner part of thetongue groove and the vertical plane, an outer locking part locatedbetween the outer part of the strip and a vertical locking plane thatintersects a locking surface of the locking element, and an intermediateflexible part located between the inner groove part and the outerlocking part wherein a lower part of the strip extends at least over apart of the intermediate part and above the rear face of the panel. 8.The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 6, wherein the horizontalextension of locking surfaces and guiding surfaces of the lockingelement and the locking groove at the short edges is equal or largerthan the tongue distance.
 9. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim1, wherein a cross section of the locking system on the long edges isconfigured such that all operative surfaces that in a locked positionare in contact with each other are such that they extend over a totallength, which is less than the floor thickness, in order to reduce thefriction.
 10. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein theshort edge with the tongue groove is provided with a second tongue abovethe tongue groove, which tongue protrudes horizontally.
 11. The set offloor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper surface of thetongue is parallel to a locking surface of the locking groove.
 12. Aninstallation method to vertically and horizontally connect rectangularfloor panels, provided with mechanically locking systems at the long andthe short edges, by vertical snap folding at the short edges and anglingat the long edges, the method comprising the steps of: a) laying a firstpanel flat on a sub floor b) bringing a second panel in an angledposition with its long edge in contact with a long edge of the firstpanel c) bringing a long edge of a new panel in an angled position andin contact with an upper part of a long edge of the first panel, wherebythe new panel has a higher angle against the sub floor than the secondpanel, d) bringing a short edge of the new panel in contact with a shortedge of the second panel, e) pressing and displacing the short edge ofthe new panel downward and horizontally along the long edge towards theshort edge of the second panel, and thereby connecting the edges of thefirst and the second panels to each other in an essentially common planewith a vertical snap folding, and f) angling the new and the secondpanel downward towards the sub floor and thereby finally connecting thefirst, second and third panel to each other in a common plane withvertical snap folding.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, whereinthe pressing causes a bending of a locking strip of the mechanicallocking system at the short edges and said horizontally displacing isobtained by a resilient spring back force of the bending.
 14. The methodas claimed in claim 12, wherein the angled position of the second panelis at an angle in which the long edges are connected in the horizontaland the vertical direction.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 12,wherein the angled position of the second panel is at an angle in whichthe long edges are only connected in the horizontal direction.
 16. A setof essentially identical floor panels each comprising long and shortedges provided with a mechanical locking system comprising first andsecond connectors integrated with the floor panels, and whereinimmediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of twojoined floor panels together define a vertical plane perpendicular tothe main plane of the panels, the first connector comprises a lockingstrip with an upwardly directed locking element, at a first edge of afloor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardly open lockinggroove at an adjacent second edge of another floor panel for connectingthe adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to thevertical plane, the second connector comprises a tongue, either at thefirst or the second edge, extending horizontally perpendicular tovertical plane, configured to cooperate with a horizontally open tonguegroove, at the other of said first or second edge, for connecting theadjacent edges in vertical direction parallel to the vertical plane, theconnectors at the long edges are configured to be locked with anglingand the connectors at the short edge are configured to be locked withvertical snap folding, wherein the tongue at one of the short edges isformed in one piece with the panel and configured to protrude from asubstantially vertical upper surface at the short edge with the tongue,and wherein the mechanical locking system at the long edges isconfigured such that a new panel is displaceable verticallysubstantially along the vertical plane of a first panel and relative thefirst panel when the new floor panel is in an angled position inrelation to the first floor panel and with the tongue within the tonguegroove, and the upper part of the locking element within the lockinggroove.
 17. The set of essentially identical floor panels as claimed inclaim 16, wherein an upper surface of the tongue is substantiallyparallel to a locking surface of the locking groove.
 18. The set ofessentially identical floor panels as claimed in claim 16, wherein theangle of the upper surface of the tongue and the locking surface of thelocking groove against the horizontal plane is more than about 60degrees.
 19. The set of essentially identical floor panels as claimed inclaim 18, wherein the angle is more than about 70 degrees.
 20. The setof floor panels as claimed in claim 16, wherein the short edge with thetongue groove is provided with a second tongue above the tongue groove,which tongue protrudes horizontally.